groberts Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I have previously been using Stellarium & Cartes du Ciel to generally look around and see what might work for viewing and particularly imaging at any given time. I now see there are some planning programmes that might help this otherwise somewhat random approach. My concern is that they are maybe too detailed i.e. overkill. Are they useful / any good?Astro Planner v Deep-Sky Planner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfpendock Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I find this pretty useful:http://dso-browser.comChris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoSuperNova Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 If you have a particular field you're interested in (DSO in my case) then by having a look at what you're physically able to see could help and almost do the planning for you by working down in magnitude / order of interest. If you just want to look at stuff in general then the book Turn Left At Orion has the seasonal "top picks" as what's on offer. I've seen the messier list broken down into easy, medium and hard finds a few times as well, that would certainly give you a broad education working through that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker1947 Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Work you way though the Messier list, there are full years worth to keep you busy and by the time the clouds have blanked out a section you could well be searching for a few years, to make it interesting don't use a GoTo..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomberbaz Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I find this pretty useful:http://dso-browser.comChrisneat little webpage that is chris, good find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicoscy Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 I use SkyTools3 myself and it does help me plan my observing sessions, print star charts with naked eye views, views through finderscope and views through the eyepiece on the same chart, find details about DSO, get warnings about interesting events (occultations, eclipses e.t.c.) and generally be more organized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groberts Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 Thanks everyone, I particularly like the look of DSO Browser + it's free! So no thoughts on Astro Planner & Deep Sky Planner?I have poor sight lines form my location so it is important to pick my spot, if you see what I mean. At the moment I am trying to pursue imaging DSO objects and the ability to overlay the camera's FOV would also be useful in planning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PorkyB Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 the ability to overlay the camera's FOV would also be useful in planning. The "Oculars" feature in Stellarium lets you do just that. Enter details of your scopes, eyepieces and cameras, then you can see what any object will look like through your kit. I find this especially useful when planning an imaging session as I can see how an object fits in the frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggywrinkle Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 I find this pretty useful:http://dso-browser.comChrisNeat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker1947 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Neat... I must be missing something, this program is just the same a Stellarium, CdC, put in your location and it shows you what's on view as a list not a map, for a more defined looking print out "Whats Up " has a much better layout with filters to sort out just about anything...http://www.whatsup.ricksastro.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger111 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 I find this pretty useful:http://dso-browser.comChrisThat's a nifty little site; just favourited it - ta-very-much.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelmorris Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 I find this pretty useful:http://dso-browser.comChrisGreat link, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHIL53 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 I personnally find this one quite "friendly" and tailor made to suit your equipment .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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